Year 9 Wellbeing Retreat
The inaugural Year 9 Wellbeing Retreat for University Campus students was held at La Trobe University from Wednesday 9 February to Friday 11 February.
The Wellbeing Retreat is a new initiative at Year 9 as University Campus continues to develop a transition program that supports our student’s move to the campus while setting them up for a year of experiences that will provide opportunities for students to thrive! The retreat provided many opportunities for students to build connections with each other, with their teachers and the broader University Campus community.
To open the retreat Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Zeta delivered a Welcome to Country. For nearly two years we have been chatting with Aunty Zeta, after numerous false starts due to the pandemic, it was wonderful to finally have Aunty Zeta educate and inspire our community with her heartfelt Welcome to Country.
With a strong focus on wellbeing, students undertook a number of workshops and presentations covering a variety of topics that will form the foundation for future conversations throughout the year. These topics include Respectful Relationships, Bullying and Harassment, Upstander/Bystander Behaviour and Party Safe.
As part of the Latrobe University community, the program also utilised facilities such as lecture theatres. Students got the chance to get to know and familiarise themselves with some of the facilities they will be accessing throughout the year ahead.
Some of the presentations and activities included a Party Safe presentation by Banyule Youth Services and a scavenger hunt around La Trobe. Students took part in an activity learning about the Ivanhoe Learner attributes and what it means to be a young person of character.
The three-day Wellbeing retreat was a great success and everyone was so impressed with the students and their ability to adapt and change to their new campus alongside their willingness to step out of their comfort zone.
